Debates of March 5th, 1993

This is page numbers 751 - 777 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
Fort Smith Public Inquiry
Public Inquiry Into The Fort Smith Health Centre
Inadequate School Facilities In Coral Harbour
Safe Haven For Boats In Lake Harbour
Nunavut Business Conference And Trade Show
Economic Strategy For Nwt
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Details Of NWT Workers' Training Fund
Status Of Funding Request For Tep In Lac La Martre
GNWT Involvement In Re-opening Of Colomac Mine
Status Of Research On Malikjuaq Park
Status Of Training And Construction Strategy
Planning Documents For Economic Development In The Nwt
Radio Transmission Difficulties In Lake Harbour
Direction Of Economic Development In Nwt
Status Of Decentralization Initiative
Organize Competition For Artists In The West
Item 7: Returns To Written Questions
Return To Written Question 19-12(3): Business Travel Undertaken By Cabinet Ministers
Bill 19: An Act To Amend The Student Financial Assistance Act
Bill 20: Loan Authorization Act, 1993-94
Bill 18: An Act To Amend The Public Printing Act
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Bill 17: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94
To Adopt Recommendation 5
Item 19: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 21: Orders Of The Day

Return To Question 391-12(3): Status Of Review Of Social Assistance System
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My response is to the question asked by Mr. Ningark on March 2, 1993, in regard to the social services social welfare.

The employability enhancement accord, commonly known as the SAR agreement, between our government and the federal government, was signed in 1987 in order to create employment opportunities for social assistance recipients.

Effective April 1, 1992, the budget for this program was transferred to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs in order to allow for better targeting of clients and to ensure effective career planning.

The Department of Social Services staff are also currently working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs to develop a strategy for providing increased training opportunities for employable social assistance recipients. This is the first part of a more comprehensive review of income support for these clients, which is being undertaken jointly by the two departments.

In addition to these cooperative initiatives, Social Services staff have reviewed the existing regulations and identified potential changes. This includes increasing the amount of income which people could earn without jeopardizing their benefits, providing direct support for the traditional harvesting activities and raising the asset limit.

Further work to determine the financial impact of these changes and to ensure continued cost-sharing with the federal government will be completed in the coming fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 391-12(3): Status Of Review Of Social Assistance System
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Question 420-12(3): GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have not cleared this question with OMC, but I see that the chairperson is out of the House. In any event, I know she has a very good sense of humour, and this being a Friday, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, in light of the very expensive and time consuming political issues that seem to continuously arise from the constituency of Thebacha, and since Fort Smith is very close to the Alberta border, will the government consider commissioning a survey to find out whether Fort Smith just might be inside the Alberta border and not the responsibility of the GNWT after all?

---Laughter

---Applause

Question 420-12(3): GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The honourable Member plays politics on the edge.

---Laughter

Mr. Pollard.

Return To Question 420-12(3): GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
Question 420-12(3): GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
Item 5: Oral Questions

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John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, as Members know, the Department of Renewable Resources has the ability for satellite imagery. Before I went down there for the meeting with the community on the banks, I did consult with them and we did, in fact, confirm that Fort Smith is in the Northwest Territories, and we are glad of that, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Return To Question 420-12(3): GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
Question 420-12(3): GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Return To Question 420-12(3): GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
Question 420-12(3): GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Taking my life in my hands, I would like to ask a supplementary to the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I know the Minister is spearheading an initiative called community transfer...

Return To Question 420-12(3): GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
Question 420-12(3): GNWT Undertake Survey As To Exact Location Of Fort Smith
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Patterson, if you are asking a question to a new Minister, it is a new question, and you will have to take

your place in the batting order. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Northwest Territories.

Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fort Smith is one of the oldest communities in the Northwest Territories, may I remind the honourable Member for Iqaluit.

Mr. Speaker, I did have a question with respect to the housing issue. I would like to direct it to the Minister of Personnel. Mr. Speaker, at the last session the Minister of Personnel indicated surplus housing would be disposed of to the public through the real estate agents. I have been advised recently by my constituents that many of the surplus units which will be identified will be turned over to DPW, Government Services and Arctic College. Is the Minister of Personnel aware of this intention? Is this now the intention of Personnel to address surplus housing in this manner? Thank you.

Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of that. We have asked Arctic College to articulate their needs. Once we have a good understanding of their needs we can begin the process of making the units available for sale through real estate agents.

Return To Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, is it clear that there has been no decision, as of yet, to identify surplus units to the Department of Government Services and Public Works and Arctic College? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education for Arctic College have not determined, as of yet, their needs. Once this is established we will indicate to DPW what units should be for sale and what units should be offered to the tenants, and begin the process of disposal of the units.

Further Return To Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Supplementary To Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, is this a change from the intended process to dispose of surplus government units than what the Minister had stated last fall? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, we have a campus in Fort Smith. The students in the Arctic College have a huge need for units at this time. We have always intended to consider their needs to make sure their needs are met before we proceed to dispose of units.

Further Return To Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Question 421-12(3): GNWT Surplus Housing Turned Over To Departments
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Question 422-12(3): Details Of NWT Workers' Training Fund
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs. In the budget address, reference was made to a new Northwest Territories workers' training fund. When does the Minister intend to provide the details of the $6 million in one time funding to establish the Northwest Territories workers' training fund?

Question 422-12(3): Details Of NWT Workers' Training Fund
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 422-12(3): Details Of Nwt Workers' Training Fund
Question 422-12(3): Details Of NWT Workers' Training Fund
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I cannot provide specifics regarding the particular dates. To inform the honourable Members of this House, a statement announcing the program was concluded, however, I wanted to provide everyone with a complete package including information and application forms, so that upon announcing the program it would be a complete package and not a separate package which might confuse people. As soon as we complete this package, it is my intention to make the statement in this House. We have not completed this package as of yet. Thank you.

Return To Question 422-12(3): Details Of Nwt Workers' Training Fund
Question 422-12(3): Details Of NWT Workers' Training Fund
Item 5: Oral Questions

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Supplementary To Question 422-12(3): Details Of Nwt Workers' Training Fund
Question 422-12(3): Details Of NWT Workers' Training Fund
Item 5: Oral Questions

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Fred Koe Inuvik

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister expect that to be completed within a week, two weeks, a month, or two months? Does he have any idea of when this will be completed?